Tag Archives: animation

Mixed-media artist David Firth (@DAVID_FIRTH) perhaps most well known for his bizarre, unsettling yet endearing “Salad Fingers” series is still at it and taking the strange to new, chilling heights. His latest released project, a short animated film entitled “Cream”.

The short is animated in a style that will be familiar to fans of Firth’s previous works, but it has taken on a starkly realistic quality, utilizing actual faces, natural textures and drab yet shocking color to truly drive home an atmosphere of strange normalcy. We are first introduced to a new miracle product, a cream, branded as Cream, that appears to be limitless in it’s uses. Cream cures acne, it can cure all ailments major and minor, it can regrow your lawn, it can even (when injected directly into the brain) increase your I.Q.

Our main character, Dr. Bellifer, has struck gold and watches as his invention soars in popularity and cosmic power. There is no stopping Cream. Cream becomes so much more than was originally intended, much to the chagrin of the good doctor. Go on and see for yourself what horrible wonders Cream can commit.

David Firth is a master of his craft, distorting reality with enough finesse to disturb yet equally draw one into his underlying message. Though the meaning may seem as clear as the blemish on one’s face (there’s a Cream for that.), we are privy to a multi-layered commentary on consumption, medicine, advertising, the ever present menace that can be the media and even our own personal connection to the world outside. Whether intended or not, Firth has command of imagery and dialogue, that when married together generates the reflective surface we so often forget to peer into when making purchases, large and small decisions and most importantly what we put our trust and faith into. Who can we truly say has our best interest at heart?

There is much to be gleaned from this twelve minute meditation on the human condition and how each of us can be manipulated into any reaction given the right circumstance, only to be led back into the fold for another go around.

I can only hope we will see more from Mr. Firth in the very near future, as he continues to terrify, sicken and delight me in good measure.

You can watch ‘Cream’ and many of his other polarizing projects on David’s YouTube Channel here: http://bit.ly/2rVrnRQ

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Going Sane in a World Gone Crazy

The Tick is back, finally. After a stint as a mascot, spanning comics, different television iterations, both live action and animated, we have a new take on a perhaps forgotten favorite hero. Amazon Prime has graciously given us a taste of what could become a brilliant new addition to the current trend of superhero-centric television. Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead, Star Wars: Episode 1) is The Tick made flesh and rubber. Peppering his performance with touches of Adam West as well as his own brand of slick delivery of dry wit and obtuse similes. Found through the eyes of Arthur Everest, as played by Griffin Newman (Vinyl, Cop Show), we join our new Tick as he scopes out shady dealings and the possible return of an old nemesis.

This pilot really captures the feeling of what makes The Tick a stellar choice for a revival.

Have you seen Amazon’s The Tick? Let us know if you’re as excited as we are to see more of this version? Do you also feel warm like the inside of bread? Get into bread with us.

More importantly, if you have seen it, please take the survey found at amazon.com/pilotseason to let them know you want more Tick in your life. We certainly do.

Stick to Nerd Hall for all things Tick, as well as the usual pop culture, comics, movies and music news you’re used to.

THE INCREDIBLES 2 Is Happening

At this year’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, California we were given a very, very tiny sneak peak at the upcoming Pixar lineup. Toy Story 4, Finding Dory, and a new Cars film. For us the most exciting news was the poster for The Incredibles 2. No details at all have been reveled at the expo about the film, besides the poster that was on display. It is happening, and it is “coming soon”. How soon? We’re really not sure yet, but we’re so glad we’re finally getting a sequel to this mega Pixar hit.

The original film was released 11 years ago this November. Quite the gap between the original film, and what will be its sequel. The first film left off with all of The Incredibles dawning their costumes, and fighting crime as a family. Where, and when the sequel will pick up is yet to be determined.

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The Return of Rick and Morty

by Anthony Wetmore (@TheMisterPipes, GhostConch)

Last night saw the return of the polarizing Rick and Morty, the warped science fiction themed cartoon from the minds of Justin Roiland (House of Cosbys, Channel 101) and Dan Harmon (Community, Harmontown). Rick and Morty premiered it’s second season on alt. comedy channel Adult Swim with an episode that defies standards and promises an even better second run.

The strange dynamic we see between Morty Smith and his alcoholic, narcissistic, devil may care scientist Rick Sanchez is challenged once again as chaos ensues in a way only they could manufacture. From the first few minutes, we’re at a standstill. Time has been stopped to clean and fix the house in order to keep peace within the Smith household. Only when time begins again does the problem arise, of course. As time begins to literally fracture and split, creating first two realities, then four, then eight… Rick and Morty along with sister Summer must try to set things right.

I don’t want to give away too much more, as the episode is a true spectacle in terms of animation, concept, and depth. In this return to prime time, we see not only another wacky, crude adventure punctuated by Rick’s belching and Morty’s incessant nervous whining. There is also a redefining of the relationship between the two titular characters through the strangeness. Despite irrefutable mathematical evidence that Morty and Summer are actual, literal shit, Rick finds himself deeply incensed to both, grandfatherly love projected through a broken prism to rain down on Morty.

The clear Doc Brown/Marty McFly parallel is ever present but consistently takes a backseat to deeper, more clearly defined unique characters. Going back to the future is nothing at all for these two, neither is changing the present. Whether or not Rick and Morty becomes the next mammoth adult-oriented cartoon to take television by storm remains to be seen, if it doesn’t, the outlandish approach to long-standing conventions will remain a legend spoken of in hushed tones in the hallowed halls of cartoon reverence.